Food Buyer

Babylonstoren; Simondium; On-site; ZAR 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Food Buyer to join their innovative team. This role involves expanding the food product offering, managing supplier relationships, and driving category strategies to enhance customer engagement. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership qualities and thrive in a fast-paced environment, demonstrating exceptional problem-solving and financial management skills. Join a forward-thinking company that values creativity and adaptability in a constantly evolving market. If you are passionate about food procurement and ready to make a significant impact, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• 5-8 years of experience in fresh food retail buying is essential.
• Strong leadership and communication skills are required.

Responsibilities

• Establish and implement category strategies to grow the customer base.
• Manage supplier relationships and ensure compliance with contracts.
• Drive category profit targets in line with brand values.

Skills

Fresh food retail buying experience

Supplier management

Food procurement

Problem-solving skills

Analytical skills

Financial management skills

Communication skills

Project management skills

Customer orientation

Tools

Computer skills

Job description

Babylonstoren has a terrific opportunity for a Food Buyer to join their dynamic team. The successful candidate will assist in expanding our food product offering; we’re looking for a solution-oriented, resourceful individual with experience in both fresh and long-life foods, supplier management and food procurement.

The ideal candidate must have natural leadership qualities, be able to work in a cross-functional team and take lead on their tasks and responsibilities. The role suits a highly motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and who can easily adapt to the changing market and organisational requirements.

Requirements

• Minimum 5-8 years’ fresh food retail buying experience
• Previous experience in a procurement management role, with demonstrable results in complex buying within a fresh food manufacturing environment, are essential
• Fluent in Afrikaans and English, with excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills
• Good planning and project management skills
• Strong financial buying and financial management skills, in particular cost make up, cost controlling, profit management and financial reporting capabilities
• Knowledge of logistics / warehousing, delivery systems and procedures, end-to-end supply chain process, and key influencing factors
• Entrepreneurial approach to initiating and co-ordinating innovative, viable product ranges for our customer target
• Strong customer and retail orientation
• Excellent computer skills in all facets of use as buying tool

Responsibilities

• Establish and implement a category strategy in line with a food strategy to deliver targets and grow customer base
• Identify, analyse and interpret lifestyle, industry, retail and food trends to establish a category strategy and an annual operating plan
• Play a leading and co-ordinating role within the product development and food technology teams to source, produce and buy food products in support of our food strategy
• Perform end-to-end commercial activities relevant to procurement of food products
• Identify, evaluate and manage suppliers through building and maintaining strong, sustainable relationships with both new and existing suppliers, whilst drawing on experience from the industry to optimise supply and profitability
• Manage supplier and farm supply production profit to achieve all KPI's
• Establish a supplier strategy that is long-term mutually beneficial, which supports and enables the delivery of the category and food strategies
• Prepare and review proposals, contracts and supplier agreements for retail and legal correctness, trading term compliance, price, and acceptability of items to specifications and competitiveness with market position
• Drive category profit targets in line with the Babylonstoren brand values
• Manage buying stock and losses in line with targets and category strategy
• Manage risk and procedures associated with food products
• Ability to actively review factors influencing trade such as economic climate, competitor activity, climatic changes, shopping habits, and customer trends, and implement tactical plans to meet demands and targets in line with the category strategy and Babylonstoren brand values

Please send your CV and salary expectation to [emailprotected].